So we are all trying to do our bit to reduce our wastage, but the reality is that this is going to take a while to incrementally achieve but every now and again a wee chestnut comes along to help us in our mission.
A big part of my category at Jenkins is what we call ‘general labels’ being packaging labels, punnet labels, small batch on-fruit labels whatever the need to help with product id, consumer information, branding, you name it we can do it. So what is going to change in this traditionally more staid category?
I’ve been doing some reading on liner-less labels, I’m thinking that we’re going to see some traction on this concept to be the very next transition for many into the next stage of high volume packaging labels. So tell me more, what is a liner-less label?
Adhesive labels as we know them are produced with a backing or liner. The liner is separated from the label for application onto the packaging or product then the liner is discarded for rubbish. Liner-less labels adhere to themselves with no backing or liner - a special manufacturing process coats the back of the label with an adhesive that peels off the surface of the underneath label and yet still has the ability to adhere to the packaging surface where it is needed to permanently adhere. It all sounds like it has the ability to all end up in a sticky mess but obviously the very clever people that do the research and bring these solutions to us know what they’re doing.
There are a lot of advantages going liner-less, just think, no liner equals about half the weight or conversely double the quantity of labels per roll, that impacts storage, freight etc etc. Not to mention that we no longer have a problem with wastage or waste disposal.
So why don’t we move to this straight away? What are the down sides to conversion? For starters, there are no cost savings (apart from waste disposal). Cost savings on your per thousand pricing more than likely aren’t going to reduce, this is new technology and requires clever (and more expensive) adhesives. You will also need a special printer or at the very least a conversion kit for your existing printers. These are nothing insurmountable, but important to know at the outset.
Using liner-less labels have incredible environmental benefits, reducing wastage and silicone into the environment and may save application costs with the larger rolls and downtime to change rolls etc. It’s now time for me to do some real homework on what the proposal is going to look like to supply these labels and you, my customers, to convert your printers and start with this change.
Watch this space!